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Claire’s 20-week scan showed that the twins were growing well, but a fortnight later, at 22-and-a-half weeks, her waters broke.

Doctors at The Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley told the couple they could resuscitate the babies if they were born under 28 weeks, so Claire was ­transferred to the ­Princess Royal ­Maternity Hospital in Glasgow.

She said: “I was just trying to keep the babies inside me for as long as possible.

“It was a horrible time, filled with worry. I tried not to move too much – I was worried to go to the toilet.

“After 23 weeks they would have a chance of resuscitation so I hoped they would stick in there. Each day brought hope.

“I got to more than 23 weeks but then I got very ill with a sepsis infection and they induced me.

“The fact that they were twins, that I had an infection and they were so premature all lowered their chance of survival.

Mum Claire is delighted to have her babies home

“I didn’t have a lot of hope.”

In the early hours of April 3 last year, Annabelle was born, weighing only 15-and-a-half ounces. Ten minutes later, Imogen arrived, weighing 1lb and half an ounce.

Claire needed an operation because she had a retained placenta and was ill with sepsis and the girls were whisked away to intensive care before their mum could see them.

She said: “I got to hold Imogen after about six days but Annabelle was smaller and more vulnerable, so I didn’t get to hold her for a few weeks.

“They were so tiny they fitted in one hand. Annabelle’s foot was about the size of James’s thumbnail. I was ­petrified when I first held them.

“They didn’t open their eyes or cry for a few weeks. They couldn’t wear clothes for 100 days, just a nappy and hat. Their skin was too delicate.”

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The babies spent six weeks in ­incubators. Both still receive oxygen through a nasal tube but doctors expect them to come off it soon.

The twins still weigh only 11 and 12lb and have to wear 0-3 month baby clothes.

Imogen came home first, then Annabelle. Claire, a child psychiatrist, said: “It was wonderful to be at home as a family. Now we are experiencing all the normal struggles new parents have but we have loved every minute. We know how lucky we are.

“There have been so many ­milestones since.

“When they both reached 500 grams (1.1lb), then their first smiles.

“We were pulling funny faces and doing all sorts to get them to do it again. Now you can’t stop them smiling – they’re so funny.

Claire with Imogen

“There is no question, if it hadn’t been for the doctors and nurses at both hospitals, they would have died. We can’t thank them enough.”

The couple have received support from the Twins and Multiple Births Association (Tamba).

Their Scottish ­co-ordinator Helen Peck said: “We are delighted for Claire and James and the twins. Imogen and Annabelle’s story is just remarkable.

“They are truly incredible – a pair of miracles.”

Helen warned that plans revealed this month in the Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland could have a major impact in future.

Recommendations include having just three neonatal intensive care units, support by other units known as local neonatal units and special care units.

Helen said: “The Weir family were lucky because they were so near to a top-notch neonatal intensive care unit when things started to go wrong.

“The Scottish Government’s ­decision to provide neonatal intensive care at three units leaves us with many unanswered questions.

“What would have happened if Claire had lived in a more remote area and was miles from one of the neonatal intensive care?

“We look forward to hearing how this will be addressed and Tamba hope to work with policymakers to implement the findings.”